🥃 Ballantine's 12 Year Old
The twelve-year line of Ballantine's blended Scotch whisky, made since the 1960s; according to Difford's Guide, 40% ABV.
Ballantine's 12 Year Old is the twelve-year line of Ballantine's blended Scotch whisky, which, according to Difford's Guide, has been produced since the 1960s. It is a blend of grain whiskies and single malts from Speyside, the Highlands, Islay and the Lowlands, bottled at 40% ABV. The number on the label refers to the age of the youngest whisky in the blend.
Production. The blend combines whiskies from different regions of Scotland, so it brings together smooth and smoky components. Difford's Guide describes the taste as honey and vanilla, toasted oak, apple with pear and a faint smoke, with a long salty-caramel finish. The source does not name the cask types. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, every component matured in Scottish oak casks for at least three years.
Why this matters to you. Compare the 12 Year Old with Ballantine's Finest to see the difference between a whisky without an age statement and an age-stated line, or with the 17 Year Old if you want a deeper, oakier taste. Remember that 12 years is the age of the youngest component, not of the whole blend. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | Ballantine's brand: 1827 (shop in Edinburgh); own blends from 1865, Glasgow |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | whisky, blended Scotch |
| Raw material | grain whiskies and single malts from Speyside, the Highlands, Islay and the Lowlands |
| Minimum maturation | 12 years (age of the youngest whisky) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (according to Difford's Guide) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Ballantine's 12 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Ballantine's, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's Finest, 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired, 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's Finest, 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all the whisky in Ballantine's 12 is 12 years old?
Not quite: the number shows the age of the youngest whisky in the blend, and older components are also possible.
What is the strength of Ballantine's 12 Year Old?
According to Difford's Guide, 40% ABV (80 proof); always check the label.
Which regions do the whiskies in the blend come from?
According to Difford's Guide, grain whiskies and single malts from Speyside, the Highlands, Islay and the Lowlands.
What to read next
- 🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old — The thirty-year line of Ballantine's blended Scotch whisky, the top of the range; sources give different strengths.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and copper pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% vol. or more.
- 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired — Ballantine's line with no age statement, matured in bourbon casks re-charred in Scotland; according to Difford's Guide, 40% ABV.
Similar
🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old · 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old · 🥃 Ballantine's Finest · 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired · 🥃 Royal Salute 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny · 🥃 Buchanan's Special Reserve 18
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Ballantine's 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (introduced in the 1960s; grain and single malts from Speyside, Highlands, Islay, Lowlands; 40 %)
- Difford's Guide: George Ballantine and Son Ltd, history and range (1827 Edinburgh, 1865 Glasgow, Finest, 12, 17, 30; Pernod Ricard since 2005)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and its categories (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)